Having seen some of the Ocún offerings in Font earlier this year I was pretty psyched to try this bad boy out
Initial Impressions
It's BIG! Out of all the bouldering mats I've used this has to be the thickest at 14.5cm... It's a beast! The build quality looks great too.
The basic design follows the traditional centre-fold mat design but it brings a few new things to the table other than it's sheer size.
Performance
Coverings: The top covering is Nylon like most mats but it conceals a 50x30cm pull out carpet which is a nice touch and very much appreciated on a recent trip to Font.
The bottom is PVC and is great for not picking up too much dirt or letting water seep into the main foam. It's a little slippy when used on slope with a grass underneath but on the whole I think it works well.
The Hinge: The two halves are joined together using a zip. You can't separate the two halves completely, it's fixed at the zip ends. I was initially a little concerned about the durability of this system but it's a pretty beefy zip and it still works as new, so don't see any reason why it won't continue to do so. There's some velcro straps on the bottom (see photo above) to help the mat stay tight together but I don't usually feel the need to use them. The zip also enables one of the mats party pieces - It can be opened regular or length ways (shown below). This feature is a lot more handy than I initially thought it'd be, either for traversing or just for fitting in tight gaps in between blocs.
Fixings: The WeBee back strap is well made, sturdy, and like the PVC bottom, it doesn't tend to pick up the dirt much. When I had another bag hanging off the back of the mat, I did think the strap could be a little wider between the shoulders as it can dig in a little. It's not a big problem though.
The strap is detachable so you can take it off completely if the ground's particularly boggy and your don't want to get it wet. The velcro that helps holding it in place is more than a little grippy so it is a little awkward to remove but if it slipped around when you were carrying it it would more of a problem so I can forgive that. It can be attached either regular backpack style or over one shoulder which is very handy for hanging off the back of another mat if you're carrying two at once.
It can also configured as a chair which is pretty neat!
The buckles used for closing the mat and attaching the backstrap are Duralumin (strong aluminium): these are top notch.
Downsides: Not really a downside but the mat's size is something to bare in mind to make sure you can:
- Transport it
- Store it
One other minor downside due to its large form factor [and it's only actually an issue if your friends don't also have a thick mat] is it can make the landings a little uneven when you're pairing it next to other mats and the ground's flat underneath (see image right). My other mat and those my friends have are in the 9-10cm thickness range so this sits quite proud of them at 14.5cm thick. I may be a little more sensitive to this issue than most though, as I've lost count of the amount of sprained ankles I've had. I usually take a small launch pad mat to cover the gap/height difference between mats which works very well.
Conclusion
With an RRP of £225, it's definitely at in top price bracket for mats. Given the build quality, the features and the fact the FTS foam system works REALLY well, I can't recommend this mat any higher. If you're looking for a new mat and have the space in your car/home for it, go for it. You won't be disappointed!
Specifications
- Weight: 6.4 Kg
- Open Size: 100×132 cm or 200×66 cm
- Thickness: 14.5 cm
- Size (Packed): 100×66×29 cm
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